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Adoption to be church issue at conference

Jason Thompson believes adoption should be a church issue.

He said orphan care once was a church and missionary priority, but over the last 100 years the task has fallen to the state government. As the lead pastor of First Baptist Church-Wolfforth, Thompson said he wants churches to reclaim the ministry.

Saturday and Sunday, First Baptist-Wolfforth will host an adoption conference, focusing on making adoption a part of church culture.

"Not all people are called to adopt, but all Christians are called to care for orphans," Thompson said.

Thompson said he believes so strongly in adoption that he is in the process of adopting four foster children.

Russell Moore, dean of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's School of Theology and author of "Adopted for Life" will speak at the conference. The event will conclude with a concert by Christian musician Andrew Peterson on Sunday night. Several representatives from various adoption agencies, including Buckner International, will be available at the conference to visit with anyone interested in learning more.

Adoption has long been an issue for many Christian groups. Missionaries like Buckner, Bethany Christian Services and Shaohannah's Hope run adoption agencies or provide parents-to-be with financial assistance. Thompson and other leaders at First Baptist-Wolfforth are helping to build upon the foundations laid by such groups.

While conference organizers hope the event does inspire some potential parents to adopt, Ross Bacon, the church's pastor of students, said it's for everyone. He echoed Thompson's words, that aiding the world's 143 million orphans is a churchwide issue.

"The Bible clearly teaches that," he said.

Bacon suggested that church members get involved by exploring foster care, donating to adoption agencies or simply supporting other families who are adopting or have adopted children.

A dinner will be held on Saturday night for pastors and their wives to discuss making adoption a part of church culture.

"We're hoping that this will go beyond us," Thompson said, "that this will be something bigger than us."

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